A Long Silence Without Word

Return to Truth Hall, behind Qixia Mountain.

As soon as the door opened, a pure and authentic sandalwood fragrance wafted towards us, neither too strong nor too weak.

The hall was extremely quiet, with only the occasional soft crackling of the ever-burning lamp wick.

The layout of the Return to Truth Hall is quite different from that of the ancestral hall in ordinary Daoist temples.

The hall has no carved beams or painted rafters, no golden bricks or jade steps; the four walls are all made of bluestone, so simple that it is almost crude. But it is precisely this simplicity that makes every object in the hall appear exceptionally solemn.

A portrait hangs on the wall in the center.

The figure in the painting wears a simple robe, with a slender face and an indescribable ethereal quality in his eyes, as if he might step out of the painting at any moment, or as if he had never truly existed in this world. The brushstrokes in the portrait are extremely simple, with only light ink washes on the hem of the robe, like clouds gathering and dispersing. The intention is conveyed without the brushstrokes, which perfectly captures the otherworldly aura of "Yun Zhongzi".

Before the portrait, a jade plaque stood quietly on the jade seat. The plaque was pure white, without any carving or decoration. The three characters "Yun Zhongzi" were engraved on the plaque in Cloud Seal Script, with the strokes flowing and swirling like clouds. At the edge of the plaque, a faint circle of rainbow light could be seen flowing endlessly. It was a wisp of Daoist charm left behind when the patriarch attained enlightenment, which had not dissipated for hundreds of thousands of years.

Beneath the jade tablet of Master Yun Zhongzi, on the offering table, five memorial tablets are arranged in order.

On the far left, the jade is warm and lustrous, milky white all over, and the plaque is engraved with the numbers "Second Generation Patriarch of Qixia Temple Dao Lord Xuanwei". A wisp of True Qi can be faintly seen flowing in the jade color, which is a sign that he went to heaven and did not have a clear fall.

The second one, right next to it, is also a jade plaque, engraved with "Qixia Temple's Third Patriarch Heavenly Venerable Caiche".

A third-party jade plaque is engraved with "Master Dao Lord Lishuo, the Fourth Patriarch of Qixia Temple".

The fourth item is a jade plaque inscribed with "Immortal Xuyi, the Fourth Patriarch of Qixia Temple".

The fourth item is a wooden plaque inscribed with "The Fifth Patriarch of Qixia Temple Immortal Guiyuan," its wood a deep, rich color.

The fifth item is a jade plaque inscribed with "True Lord Xicheng, the Sixth Patriarch of Qixia Temple".

Five memorial tablets, four made of jade and one made of wood, stand silently like a forest.

Below the offering table, there are several layers of wooden steps that extend downwards, neatly arranged with the wooden memorial tablets of the successive abbots of Qixia Temple.

The wooden plaques were simple in design and varied in size. Each plaque was engraved with the name of a master of the temple and the year of their reign, starting from the first master of the Purple Mansion Temple and continuing to the previous generation.

Layer upon layer of wooden signs, like a silent forest.

Behind each wooden plaque is the name of someone who once governed Qixia Mountain, who stood in the same spot where Su Yao now stands, gazing at the same portrait, and asking the same questions.

At the very bottom of all the memorial tablets, in front of the offering table, three items are quietly displayed.

At the very top are two sword racks, which should have originally housed the Ask Amid the Clouds left by the Patriarch and the Zhengji Sword bestowed by the Dao Ancestor.

Beside it, there was another branch, the Turbid and Clear Branch.

At the very bottom is the Daoist Gate Talisman Edict that Su Yao just returned.

At this moment, Su Yao knelt on the prayer mat before the altar, his back straight.

Beside him stood Qingyang, its fur as smooth and warm as Azure Jade. It held Ask Amid the Clouds mouth, and its Azure Jade- colored eyes reflected the light of the ever-burning lamp and the memorial tablets filling the hall.

Su Yao gazed at the jade tablet in the center bearing the name of Ancestor Yun Zhongzi, remaining silent for a long time before slowly speaking:

"Qingzhu, hasn't Daozheng returned yet?"

The Qingyang didn't open its mouth, yet a profound sound emanated from its body, clear and melodious, like the gentle tapping of an ancient bell:

"No. Since you descended the mountain, He went to the Jade Void Palace and there has been no further news of Him. We only occasionally hear of Him appearing in Nanzhao and the Central Plains."

Qingyang paused, then lowered her voice slightly:

"He only sent a message earlier, instructing me to implant a Rainbow Clouds Golden Nature into Guangli's body and send it to Nanzhao, and then there was no further news. Also, after He left that year, He asked me to activate the great formation and wait for your return."

Upon hearing this, Su Yao's brows twitched slightly, and he said:

"You are Divine Core Perfected One, there's nothing He shouldn't be hiding from you..."

Qingyang chuckled softly, a hint of inexplicable helplessness in her voice:

"He probably doesn't know either, and by the time he does, it may be too late to tell him."

Su Yao nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

His gaze shifted from the jade tablet of Ancestor Yun Zhongzi to the divine tablets of the five other ancestral masters.

Four pieces of jade and one piece of wood—the densely packed wooden plaques, illuminated by the ever-burning lamps, resemble a silent forest.

He suddenly realized that he didn't recognize most of the names on those wooden plaques. But he knew that behind each name was someone who had cultivated, attained enlightenment, taken on disciples, and passed on their knowledge on Qixia Mountain.

Many of them never left the mountain in their entire lives.

Some people, Yun Zhongzi, went to the heavens, leaving behind only a jade tablet for future generations to admire.

His gaze finally settled on the jade tablet of True Lord Xicheng. The tablet was milky white, with a faint wisp of True Qi flowing across its surface; it was indeed the divine tablet left by the True Lord. Remembering what the True Lord had told the messenger, he asked:

"Does the True Lord have any news from Zhongnan Mountain?"

Qingyang shook his head:

"Xicheng is gone, and similarly, Gui Hong has been out of contact since he went to Zhongnan."

Su Yao sighed upon hearing this and did not ask any further questions.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The flames of the eternal lamps swayed gently in the breeze, casting long and short shadows on the rows of memorial tablets.

Qingyang suddenly spoke, her voice softening slightly:

"Now that you've Purple Mansion Qixia Temple, it's only right that Qixia Mountain should begin accepting disciples. How about we set it for next month?"

Su Yao frowned upon hearing this:

"Are you in such a hurry?"

The Qingyang laughed, its laughter like the wind passing through a pine forest:

"The mountain gates should be opened now so I can send an envoy to Mount Lao to propose marriage."

Su Yao was taken aback.

He turned his head, looked into Qingyang's warm Azure Jade- colored eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then said:

She might not agree.

Qingyang was taken aback upon hearing this:

"You've already used the Purple Cloud Unity Covenant, how could this be...?"

"When Zilin went to Nanzhao, she shouldn't have had the Purple Cloud Unity Covenant," Su Yao said in a low voice. "Who sent it?"

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

Qingyang remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, her voice carrying a faint hint of guilt:

"I hope you won't hate me. It was I who went to Xinqi Qizhenzi, who then asked him to consult with Danqiuzi of Mount Lao, and that's how this item was obtained, which was then sent over through someone else."

Su Yao looked at it but didn't reply immediately.

After a moment, he said:

Why?

The Qingyang lowered its head, its mouth loosening slightly for a moment as it held Ask Amid the Clouds, before gently tightening its grip again.

Its deep sound lowered, like an echo coming from the depths of the earth:

"There's no other way. If you want to achieve Five Laws Perfection within three hundred years, you definitely can't rely on elixirs alone, especially the hurdle of reaching the Purple Realm after the Three Divine Ability. Back then, He only managed to overcome it in one go by cultivating with Purple Qi."

Su Yao stared at it for a long time.

I know that He is referring to the Third Patriarch, after all, Qingzhu was the mount of the Third Patriarch, an ancient person from the Spring and Autumn Period.

The flame of the eternal lamp in the hall suddenly flickered, casting an extremely long shadow of the Qingyang that covered the entire wall of memorial tablets.

Su Yao finally spoke, his voice low, uttering only seven words:

"Then let's do as you wish."

Qingyang looked up at him, her Azure Jade- green eyes filled with both relief and heartache.

It said nothing more, but gently moved Ask Amid the Clouds forward an inch, the cloud patterns on the sword flowing as if responding to Su Yao's words.

Just then, Qingyang frowned slightly.

"Go down the mountain," its voice suddenly became abrupt, "It must be someone from the Flower-Shifting Palace."

"Flower-Shifting Palace?" Su Yao repeated softly.

Qingyang nodded:

"Although this palace is not part of our Mysterious Gate lineage, it has ultimately received the inheritance of the Primordial Lady of Purple Void. The Primordial Sovereign recently displayed great power, slaying three True Lord of Great Qing and two Bodhisattva of Buddhist School. We must ultimately give the Primordial Sovereign some face."

"Which True Lord and Bodhisattva they?" Su Yao asked.

"The Prince of Kaiping of Great Qing, the first two kings of Qin and Jin, and a Bodhisattva each from Mount Putuo and Tubo."

Su Yao was taken aback upon hearing this.

The Prince of Kaiping.

The first kings of Great Qing were Qin and Jin.

Mount Putuo, the Bodhisattva of Tubo.

The Primordial Lady of Purple Void killed four True Lord- level beings in one fell swoop—what an earth-shattering event!

He suddenly remembered what Qingyang had said earlier, "I've occasionally heard that He has appeared in Nanzhao and the Central Plains." Daozheng went to the Central Plains; could it be related to this matter?

He suppressed the turmoil in his mind and asked again:

What brings you here from the Flower-Shifting Palace?

Qingyang Road:

"They must be inviting you to the ceremony; the two palace masters of the Flower-Shifting Palace have requested gold."

Su Yao shook his head:

"If I remember correctly, those two palace masters follow the path of the Divine Dao..."

Qingyang nodded:

"Flourishing Wood has been without anyone for a long time. This time, it seems we can finally have one."

Su Yao was somewhat taken aback.

Qingzhu was Divine Core Perfected One in the Daoist sect of Qingxuan. When he was young, he often heard this Supreme True Person comment on the Great True Person who sought gold, but most of the comments were not good.

The Path of the Flourishing Wood, a wondrous legacy left by the Heavenly Sovereign, has been sought after by countless cultivators throughout the land, yet none have ever succeeded.

"Have you been there?" Su Yao asked.

Qingyang shook his head:

"Many people in the world do not live long enough. The Flourishing Wood Attainment Rank is imbued with the divine power left by the Heavenly Sovereign, so no one would dare to allow anyone to ascend to it. However, a Subsidiary Rank a Flower God is still acceptable."

It paused, then urged again:

Go quickly.

Su Yao said no more.

He stood up, bowed to the Qingyang, then bowed to the ancestral tablets filling the hall, and then turned and walked out.

Stepping out of the Return to Truth Hall, a mountain breeze greets you, and the fragrance of pear blossoms still lingers.

He descended the stone steps, bypassed the Rainbow Bridge, and passed through the courtyard. His steps were neither hurried nor slow, but his mind was still on the matter of Primordial Lady of Purple Void beheading True Lord.

Reaching the foot of the mountain, at the end of the stone steps, a figure in yellow stood quietly beneath an ancient tree.

It was a woman with delicate features, surrounded by a yellowish-green aura like spring smoke. Although her aura was only at the initial stage of the Purple Mansion realm, her eyes were extremely bright, revealing a hint of intelligence and agility.

She held an invitation in her hands. The invitation was made of yellow silk and embroidered with a hundred flowers. In the center, the two characters "Yihua" were embroidered in silver thread.

Su Yao stopped on the stone steps, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Su Yao of Qixia Temple".

The woman in yellow looked up, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment before she curtsied, her voice clear and melodious like a nightingale's song:

"Lianyue of the Flower-Shifting Palace greets the Abbot."

She paused, and before Su Yao could answer, she continued:

"The abbot resides in Nanzhao, and his reputation as a sword immortal has spread throughout the land."

Upon hearing this, Su Yao's gaze shifted slightly.

He remembered this person.

Years ago, he sent Zhang Ziyan to the Flower-Shifting Palace's villa in Nanzhao to exchange for the Spirit Wood Child.

The person in charge of that villa at the time was none other than Lianyue, who is standing before me.

At that time, she was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Zhang Ziyan returned and said that the matter had been settled, and they agreed that he would visit her again after the Proclaiming Earth matter was completed. However, the Flower-Shifting Palace villa was temporarily closed, and the matter was put aside.

I never expected to meet you here today.

"Fellow Lianyue," Su Yao nodded slightly, "I hadn't seen you in Nanzhao, but I didn't expect to meet you here."

Upon hearing this, Lianyue's face flashed with a very faint hint of embarrassment, which she quickly concealed, and she said softly:

"The retreat was vacated due to an urgent summons from the palace, and I was unable to bid farewell to the abbot. I hope the abbot will forgive me."

Su Yao waved his hand:

"It's alright. What brings you here today, fellow Daoist?"

Lianyue handed over the invitation with both hands, her expression becoming serious, and said solemnly:

"Lianyue of the Flower-Shifting Palace, acting on the orders of the two Palace Masters, has come to Qixia Mountain to deliver an invitation. The two Palace Masters will be seeking gold at the Flower-Shifting Palace headquarters in Fuzhou on New Year's Day. The Master and Uncle-Master will be cultivating the Flourishing Wood together, an unprecedented event since the founding of the Flower-Shifting Palace. The Palace Masters have specially instructed Lianyue to come and invite the Abbot and all fellow Qixia Temple to attend the ceremony in Fuzhou."

Su Yao reached out and took the invitation, glancing at it.

The letter was written in elegant handwriting, stating the time and place for requesting the money, as well as the phrase "Respectfully inviting Qingyan Qixia Temple to grace us with his presence." It was stamped with the Hundred Flowers Seal of the Flower-Shifting Palace at the bottom of the letter.

Su Yao tucked the invitation into his sleeve and looked at Lianyue:

"It is indeed rare for two palace masters to request gold. I will certainly make my way there."

Upon seeing this, Lianyue bowed slightly.

"Then we will respectfully welcome the Abbot in Fuzhou."

Su Yao nodded.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"Fellow Lianyue, I have a question to ask."

Lianyue said, "Please speak, Abbot."

"Back then, your palace's villa in Nanzhao was demolished without warning. Is this related to the Proclaiming Earth affair?"

Upon hearing this, Lianyue hesitated for a moment.

She was silent for a moment before speaking softly:

"Since the Abbot has asked, Lianyue dares not conceal the truth. The urgent summons from the palace back then was indeed related to the situation in Nanzhao. However, due to my low Lianyue and limited influence, I am truly unaware of the details. I only know that it was the Grand Palace Master who personally issued the order, commanding everyone in the detached courtyard to immediately return to the main altar in Fuzhou, without fail."

She paused, then added:

"After returning, the Palace Master told me, ' The Flower-Shifting Palace will not interfere in matters concerning Proclaiming Earth.' As for anything else, Lianyue knew nothing."

Upon hearing this, Su Yao's gaze shifted slightly.

"The affairs of Proclaiming Earth are not to be interfered with by the Flower-Shifting Palace."

These words were spoken lightly, but Su Yao understood the meaning behind them perfectly.

It's not that Flower-Shifting Palace doesn't want to get involved, it's that it dares not. The chaos in Proclaiming Earth involves the imperial court, immortal sects, Witch Department, Confucian School, Demonic Dao sects, Buddhist School, a complex and unpredictable power struggle. Although Flower-Shifting Palace has the inheritance of Primordial Lady of Purple Void, it is ultimately not orthodox and its foundation is limited. Once it gets involved in the Proclaiming Earth situation, the slightest mistake could lead to total defeat.

Therefore, Flower-Shifting Palace chose the safest approach: to withdraw completely, leaving no trace.

They didn't even have time to inform Zhang Ziyan of his promise to "visit again after the Proclaiming Earth matter is completed."

Su Yao nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

He had seen the name Flourishing Wood in the scriptures of Qixia Temple. During the reign of the Heavenly Sovereign, all plants and trees in the world had spirits, and Flourishing Wood was the essence of wood, in charge of the flourishing and withering of plants, the growth of all Fruition Position, and lifespan. Later, the Heavenly Sovereign went to heaven, and the Flourishing Wood Attainment Rank remained vacant. As for the Subsidiary Rank the Flower God, although it was not as supreme as the Flourishing Wood Attainment Rank, it was still a Orthodox God in charge of all flowers, gardens, and herbs in the world.

"Both palace masters are seeking their Fruition Position, and Flourishing Wood and the Flower God are ascending to the throne simultaneously," Su Yao said slowly. "Such a grand event is one that our Qixia Temple should naturally attend."

Upon hearing this, Lianyue's face lit up with a fleeting joy, which she quickly concealed, and she bowed respectfully.

"In that case, on behalf of the two palace mistresses, Lianyue thanks the abbot."

She paused, then added:

"The Palace Master also said that if it's convenient for the Abbot, he could bring his disciples along. Although the Flower-Shifting Palace isn't large, the magnificent display of flowers at the Fuzhou headquarters is definitely worth seeing."

Su Yao nodded slightly. "Okay."

Lianyue did not linger any longer. She bowed deeply to Su Yao, turned around, and transformed into a streak of yellow-green light, disappearing into the depths of the void in an Great Void.

Su Yao stood on the stone steps, watching the departing light disappear into the distance, and remained silent for a moment.

The Flower-Shifting Palace will not interfere in matters concerning Proclaiming Earth.

He recalled that back in Nanzhao, after the Flower-Shifting Palace villa was vacated, although he hadn't seen it, Su Yao had benefited from exchanging the Spirit Wood Child, since the other party had also given him a special Spirit Wood Child, which was now the Golden Ao Mountain God "Yunsong".

However, the Flower-Shifting Palace did not get involved, take sides, or form alliances.

In times of chaos, this is actually a rare and precious clarity of mind.

He glanced down at the invitation in his sleeve, then recalled what Qingyang had just said.

The Primordial Lady of Purple Void has slain two True Lord and two Bodhisattva; the two Palace Masters of the Flower-Shifting Palace are both seeking gold; the Daozheng appearing in the Central Plains...

He shook his head, suppressing these thoughts for the time being, and turned to walk up the mountain.

The mountain breeze rustled through the ancient trees.

The pear blossoms on the mountain were still falling, the pure white petals landing on his white robe before silently sliding off.

When he reached the middle of the mountain, he suddenly stopped and looked back down the mountain.

There, the Great Void emptiness stretched out, with clouds and mist churning.

He looked for a moment, then looked away and continued walking up the mountain.

Behind me, on Lake Encompassing Emptiness, the Rainbow Bridge still stands.

Pear blossoms fell like snowflakes, filling the sky.

Moved by what he heard, Su Yao spoke loudly:

"Pear blossoms fall, Qixia is filled with the white glow of Qixia Mountain, as white as snow."

As white as snow, ruled by the Earth element of Wu (戊), who set the mystery?

For sixty years, I've been a traveler beyond the dust of the world; in the Return to Truth Hall, the lamp flickers on and off.

The lamp flickers, the clouds are deep, and all communication has ceased.